Australian halfback in Bradford returns home, to join the coal mines

As a player, you know when the time is right to return home, and for Australian halfback Ben Jeffries, who is currently playing for the Bradford Bulls in the English Super League, now is that time.

Jeffries announced that he plans to retire from full-time rugby league, following stints with the Bulls and the Wakefield Wildcats.

The 32-year old Australian plans to return back to his home country with his family, where he has been offered a spot in the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs side, as well as a job in the coal mines, as a result.

â€œIâ€™ll be playing for Kurri Kurri Bulldogs, which is more of a local competition but is pretty much classed as the best in New South Wales below the NRL and the Under-20s.

â€œThrough that, Iâ€™ve been offered a job in the mines, which allows me to earn the same sort of money I earn now for the rest of my working life if I want to stay in that industry.

â€œItâ€™s a no-brainer really. I donâ€™t know what my exact role will be just yet but Iâ€™ll be working in the mining industry and I know that when I get there I can diverse into certain categories of mining â€“ I can be open-cut or underground.

â€œCoal mining is a massive industry in Australia and people are queuing up to get into that line of work so Iâ€™m grateful to have landed this job.

â€œIâ€™ve loved playing for Wakefield and Bradford but starting a nine-to-five job and living in a country Iâ€™ve not lived in for 10 years represents a new challenge for me now.â€

Those of you who are Wests Tigers fans or St George Illawarra fans may remember him – before he made the decision to move to the ESL in 2002.

Bulls coach Mick Potter, whilst disappointed to see Jeffries depart, acknowledged the commitment he gave the club.

â€œHe has given great service to both the Bulls and the Wildcats.

â€œI would like to thank him for what he has done for the club and wish him and his family every success in the future.â€